38 Injured After Ceiling Collapses at South Korea Sales Event in Daegu
SCMP · 5 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago3 MIN
Summary
A ceiling collapse occurred at a commercial sales event in South Korea's southeastern city of Daegu on Saturday morning, resulting in 38 injuries. The incident took place at around 10:16am on the second floor of a four-storey building in Gwaneum-dong, northern Daegu, where a vendor was selling kitchenware to a crowd of elderly shoppers . All 66 people inside the building managed to evacuate on their own, though 38 sustained minor injuries and nine were transported to nearby hospitals . None of the injuries were considered life-threatening . Emergency services responded swiftly, deploying 14 fire vehicles and 60 rescue personnel according to one source, while another reported 18 fire trucks and 55 personnel . The building, constructed in 1994, had previously housed a grocery store on the first floor that ceased operations in September . President Lee Jae-myung ordered officials to make every effort to rescue people and ensure a thorough response to the accident .
Key Points
- The incident occurred at approximately 10:16am local time on the second floor of a four-storey commercial building in Gwaneum-dong, Daegu's northern district, during a kitchenware promotional event with mostly elderly attendees .
- Firefighters deployed between 14 to 18 fire vehicles and 55 to 60 personnel to the scene, completing a secondary search by 10:55am and finding no additional trapped individuals .
- Among the 66 people inside, 38 sustained minor injuries such as cuts, scrapes, and dizziness, while nine required hospital transportation; all injuries were non-life-threatening .
- Eyewitness accounts described the collapse lasting less than 10 seconds, with one 79-year-old survivor saying their arm was briefly trapped under debris and another noting the building interior went completely dark during the incident .
- President Lee Jae-myung and Prime Minister Han Seong-sook both issued emergency directives for rescue operations, with authorities planning a comprehensive investigation into the collapse cause and building safety inspections .
Why It Matters
The incident highlights potential safety vulnerabilities in aging commercial buildings that have undergone changes in occupancy, particularly on upper floors hosting temporary sales events . The swift presidential response underscores the seriousness with which South Korean authorities treat mass-casualty incidents, setting a precedent for emergency protocol activation and post-incident investigations that could influence building safety regulations nationwide .
The incident highlights potential safety vulnerabilities in aging commercial buildings that have undergone changes in occupancy, particularly on upper floors hosting temporary sales events . The swift presidential response underscores the seriousness with which South Korean authorities treat mass-casualty incidents, setting a precedent for emergency protocol activation and post-incident investigations that could influence building safety regulations nationwide .